SWEET, SALTY, AND SOUR MARINADE

Sweet, Salty, and Sour Marinade image

Provided by Matt Lee

Yield Makes about 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 8

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3 ounces palm sugar, chopped, or 6 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
4 red Thai chiles or 6 Fresno chiles, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons minced lemongrass (from peeled bottom 4" of 2 large stalks)
Ingredient info: Palm sugar is available at Indian and Asian markets. Fish sauce is sold at Asian markets and better supermarkets.

Steps:

Stir palm sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
Combine lime juice, fish sauce, and 3 tablespoons water in a medium bowl. Whisk in 1/3 cup palm sugar syrup (reserve remaining syrup for glaze). Stir in cilantro, ginger, chiles, and lemongrass. Put pork or seafood in a glass, stainless-steel, or ceramic dish. Toss with marinade. Cover; chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Remove pork or seafood from marinade, pat dry, and grill.
The finish:
Simmer marinade and reserved palm sugar syrup in a small saucepan until reduced to 3/4 cup. Brush glaze onto meat or fish during the last few minutes of grilling.